And so while there were no gang related murders over the weekend - the Southside commander says the city remains tense. And he admits that it's because gang rivalries have erupted again. Now, his predecessor, Chester Williams had worked out a gang truce in April, and everything seemed calm - but today, in surprisingly candid and bold remarks, said that if you felt things had cooled down, it was a fooling feeling:...

Sr. Sup. Marco Vidal"Currently the situation in some areas is very tense because the rivalries have erupted and we intend to continue with our operations to ensure that we can nip it in the butt."

Jules Vasquez. Reporter"Would you say it is due to, it is owing to the difference in strategy, a difference in approaches taken by yourself as oppose to the previous commander who was constantly involved and advertising mediation activities, which you have said the state has no mediation to do."

Sr. Sup. Marco Vidal"Right, let me answer in context. First of all, the mediations have not ended despite, again, what you may have read or seen on the social media. The mediation has not changed, that continues, just that it is within the body that is responsible for doing mediation objectively. In terms of any peace having been, between whatever period you want to put it, as a journalist, if you would go in and speak to the very people who speak about peace, you would know that there was no peace and there was a number of underlined issues that prevailed during that same time. My policy is that I don't give any persons any break, in terms of breaking the law. If the criminals are not happy with that then we will enforce the law. And that's it."

Jules Vasquez"Are you alluding to the widely held perception that certain groups were allowed to thrive in the marijuana trade while others were not allowed to thrive on that trade under the previous commander?"

Sr. Sup. Marco Vidal"Exactly, and obviously you have your information from that world."

Jules Vasquez"I said it was a perception."

Sr. Sup. Marco Vidal"I don't know if it was a perception, I'm sure you have your sources there and you would know that there was some perception, if you may, that there were some persons allowed to do some things and others not allowed to do the same thing. My position is and my strategy is that it is across the board. You commit an offense and you will face the consequences for that offense."

That's strong talk - accusing a senior officer - essentially of facilitating criminals - and Williams says he will be taking legal action against Vidal for his remarks.